Welcome to a new Sunday series that will be a bit like a fireside chat. I count it a privilege to be a part of an amazing group of Travel bloggers here at BoardingArea.com. But just how well do you know “your” BoardingArea writers? Are you reading all the blogs you should be each day? This series will help you get to know them one by one. Now on to this weeks chat.
This week I get to sit down with a legend in the frequent flyer community here at BoardingArea. It is amazing that in a little over two years Greg has become someone who finds points where no one dares to look. Last year at just about this time he began a quest to earn 1 million, yes, 1 million points in just one month and he DID IT! Astounding. I am really excited so let’s jump right in and get to know you THE Frequent Miler Greg!
Rene – Hi Greg thank you for taking time to chat with me. You and me both started blogging at about the same time. Is blogging something you have always wanted to do or set the stage for us as to what led you to start the blog.
Greg – Thank you for having me here for this interview! When I was a kid I was interested in becoming a writer, but there were no such things as blogs back then so no, blogging hasn’t been a longtime objective. 🙂 I started blogging shortly after I discovered this hobby. I was so excited by the possibilities that I just wanted an outlet to share my excitement with others.
Rene – When it comes to sharing your excitement, boy do I get it. Each post I read from you makes my head spin and the blood pump faster. But how did you end up at at Boarding Area and how did you find your niche with all these shopping and point deals?
Greg – Boarding Area somehow discovered me and invited me to join. That was an exciting day since most of my favorite blogs were (and still are) on Boarding Area! As to my niche regarding shopping and point deals, I think I just fell into it when I discovered some opportunities to earn huge numbers of points at a very low cost. I enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out how to maximize each deal far beyond the advertised intent.
Rene – (giggle – I love it). Right. Staying on that “tack” as they say in sailing circles, let’s say someone has never ever been to your blog (yeah right) or is a bit overwhelmed by what they see on the blog and all the steps involved and worried they can not do what you do. Where do they start?
Greg – Well, plenty of other blogs are geared more towards beginners, so I’d recommend that people browse the other Boarding Area blogs to see what catches their interest. Alternatively, I do offer a free email newsletter that is intended for beginners. It is sent out no more than once a week in order to keep people from being overwhelmed.
Rene – Nice. Then for the, ah hem, rest of us who are ready to jump in with both feet you have another neat thing going as I think you only post once a day on the blog so when other deals come up you have another site for that. What is that all about?
Greg – Yep, for my daily blog I take time to research each topic and I have a fairly high bar for what I’ll publish there and what I won’t. There are many deals and opportunities, though, that I want to share quickly before I’ve had time to research them and/or that don’t quite make the cut for my daily blog. So, I created a separate site called Frequent Miler’s Quick Deals in which I share all of these things. A Quick Deal can be anything from a short term large store discount, to amazing award space available on a particular airline.
Rene – Sweet. And I also know we can signup to get instant emails from you on this as well. OK on to what is next. I have been told there may be a book on the way from you? Can you share more and what is on tap for the blog for 2014?
Greg – Yes, with help from Randy Peterson’s InsideFlyer magazine team, we’re putting together the story of the my million miles in a month challenge (which was called “Million Mile Madness”) into the form of an e-book. For those who missed the daily blog posts on the subject, I think you’ll find it to be an interesting story! As for the blog and 2014, I plan to simply continue to try to find the best tricks and tips I can so as to share via my blog. I’d love to do another challenge of some sort, but I don’t want to simply redo the Million Mile Madness challenge. If any of your readers have suggestions for new challenges, I’m all ears!
Rene – Oh what a dream fun idea – to find the next great adventure for the Frequent Miler; that would be a once in a lifetime thing to brag about to other points junkies. I know you are busy but one more thing before you go. You also speak at frequent flyer events (for those who have never seen Greg live it is a cross between a stand up comedy show and a 501 level points class that will blow your mind). When can readers have a chance to hear you speak in 2014 and where?
Greg – Thanks Rene, I enjoy presenting at these conferences so it’s great to hear that you’ve enjoyed attending some of my sessions! The best part of attending these events, to me, is the chance to meet readers and others excited about this hobby. Anyway, I’ll be speaking at Frequent Traveler University in Seattle in April and at the Chicago Seminars in October. I was planning to speak at the annual Ann Arbor Art Fair DO, but I’ll be in Switzerland at the time staying in a suite at the Park Hyatt before flying home via Lufthansa First Class!
Rene – Exciting. Greg I cannot thank you enough for this chat as well as for all your hard work. I cannot wait to follow your exploits in the year and years to come!
Greg – Thank you Rene!
You can follow Greg on his blog at BoardingArea, on Twitter, at his Quick Deals site, on Facebook, subscribe via RSS and contact him via email. Be sure to check back next week when you’ll have a chance to get to know another one of “your” favorite BoardingArea bloggers! – René
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So if earning 1 million frequent flyer miles in a month has become a bore why not try to fly 1 million miles in a month? Seems like a worthy goal for a madman like you!
@justSaying – don’t know if you could do that even non-stop flying. I mean JFK-AMS-NRT-LAX-JFK = 17,375 miles. With 100% Bonus you are still talking 29 days of NON-STOP flying (but only 1/2 million but in seat – only)
justSaying: As DP said, I’m not sure that’s possible at all, but I did think of it! Another option I’ve considered is trying to earn a million points and miles through travel. I would count points earned from flying, from hotels, from car rentals, from dining out, and even from portals used to make bookings. Unfortunately, I think that doing that challenge would cost me a huge amount of money (I’m pretty sure it can’t be done for $1k or anything close to that).